Can forming apparatus



Sept. 6, 1966 E. G. MAE-DER Em. 3,270,544

CAN FORMING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 26, 1963 IIIIIIIIIL'II www www sept- 6, 1966 E. G. MAEDER ETAL 3,270,544

CAN FORMING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 26, 1963 INVENTORS EDWARD G. MAEDER GUIDO KRAUS BY Sept. 6, 1966 E. G. MAEDER Asz'rAl..

CAN FORMING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 26, 1965 wiwi KRAUS INVENTORS EDWARD G. MAEDER GUIDO Sept 6 1966 E. G. MAEDER r-:TAL 3,270,544

CAN FonMrNG APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed June 26, 1963 bmw mws WAM VMR N JK Y1...,.0 m mw DW EG fw, MM,

THEIR ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1966 E. G. MAEDER ETAL 3,270,544

CAN FORMING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dn s SE Y mo lm TES R NAU 4m/G EMA T V-m 7km m@ m am Awmm M/ ulm DW sept? 6 1966 E. G. MAI-:DER ETAI. 3,270,544

CAN FORMING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS EDWARD G. MAEDER GUIDO KRAUS THEIR ATTORNEYS Filed June 26, 1963 SePf- 6', 19.66 E. G. MAI-:DER ETAL 3,270,544

CAN FORMING APPARATUS Filed June 26, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTORS EDWARD G. MAEDER GUIDO KRAUS @D Q/W I THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,270,544 CAN FORMING APPARATUS Edward G. Maeder, Chesterfield County, and Guido Kraus, Chester, Va., assignors to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lune 26, 1963, Ser. No. 290,740l 22 Claims. (Cl. 72-346) This invention relates to an ironed and drawn can, and apparatus and method for forming the same.

A unitary apparatus and method for drawing, trim-v ming, flanging, and bottom forming receptacles such as drawn and ironed cans is provided by this invention.

A generally horizontal cylindraceou's drawing and ironing die construction may be provided with a blank feeder, such as a can feeder, and a punch construction at the entrance end of said die construction, and with an indexing star wheel construction at the discharge end of said die construction to receive the drawn and/or ironed cans.

The punch construction may reciprocate into and out of the feeder, the die construction and the temporarily stationary can receiving star wheel cavity, and in so doing it may draw and iron a shallow, cup-like blank into an elongated drawn and ironed can.

The punch, die and star wheel also may form the bottom of the elongated can as desired.

The punch construction may strip the drawn can from the punch construction while in the temporarily stationary can receiving star wheel cavity.

The star wheel construction may advance the can receiving cavity to a rim trimming and rim iianging station or stations during its indexed rotation, and may then deliver the finished can to a discharge station for conveyance from the star wheel construction.

The invention provides individual and cooperating improvements in the punch construction, the feeder, the die construction and the star wheel construction, as more fully elsewhere disclosed.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a can having one or more of the features herein disclosed.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus having one or more of the features herein disclosed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method having one or more of the features herein disclosed.

Other objects are apparent from this description, the appended claimed subject matter and from the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of an apparatus embodying this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view along line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic cross section along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged vertical cross section along line 5 5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of part of the punch construction.

FIGURE 7 is a side view of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical cross section of a part of the punch and die construction shown in FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing certain parts in elevation during the punch withdrawal stage.

FIGURE 10 is a side View of a drawn, ironed and bottom formed can produced by the apparatus and method of this invention.

FIGURE 1l is a view of the can of FIGURE 10 after the rim has been trimmed.

ICC

FIGURE 12 is a view of the can of FIGURE 11 after the rirn has been flanged.

FIGURE 13 is a side view of a can similar to those shown in FIGURES l0-l2 but in which the bottom is at.

FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic cross section showing further details of the punch and die construction.

FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic representation of the feeder mechanism and the chutes which supply blanks to the feeder mechanism.

Certain words are used in this application which describe direction, relative position, etc. Such words are used for the sake for brevity and clearness. They describe directions, relative positions, etc., as shown in the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the actual devices may have different directions and relative positions and still come Within the scope of the invention. Examples of such words are: vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, rightward, leftward, etc.

In FIGURES 1 through 4, a punch construction 20 is reciprocated, for example, at the rate of cycles per minute. Previously formed, shallow, cup-like blanks 22 are alternately fed by two chutes 24 into a transversely reciprocal feeder 48 which alternately holds a blank 22 between the punch construction 20 and the die cavity 28.

The cup-like blanks 22 are variously drawn and ironed in the die cavity 28, into any one or more elongated or drawn cans 200, for example, of the shapes shown in FIGURES 10 to 13, and are discharged, at the position indicated at 30, FIGURE l, at the top of a star wheel 32 which receives the discharged cans 200 in the temporarily stationary star wheel cavities 34. The star wheel 32 is stepped, by 30 angles, for example. It is intermittently rotated clockwise, in FIGURE 3, in 30 degree steps so an empty cavity 34 is intermittently stopped and aligned at the top portion of the star wheel to receive a drawn and ironed can 200 at each reciprocation of the punch 20.

Each indexing step, or intermittent rotation of the indexed `and rotated star wheel 32 has a relatively long pause, and a quick movement for each 30 step.

The star wheel 32 is provided with a cam groove 36 which is sh-own in cross section in FIGURE 1, and in dotted lines in FIGURE 3. The cam groove 32 lreceives and reciprocates a pin 38 at the lower end of a lever construction 40 which rocks about a fulcrum bearing 42. The upper end of the lever 40 rocks a pin 44 of a reciprocating bar 46. The bar 46 reciprocates the feeder carriage 48, FIGURES 4 and 15, which reciprocates back and forth under the two chutes 24 alternately to feed the blanks 22 in front of the punch construct-ion 20.

The feeder carriage 48 is caused to have relatively long pauses and quick movements. The feeder carriage 48 remains a sufficient length of time in stationary condition to permit the punch construction 20 to push the blanks 22 through the die cavity 28 and into the star wheel cavities 34 and then also to withdraw -a sufficient distance to permit the feeder carriage 48 quickly to reciprocate to feed the next blank `or shallow can.

The relatively long pause and quick movement of the feeder carriage 48 is produced by the stepped trackway -or groove 36, which is outlined in FIGURE 3. The groove 36 has a plurality of relatively long 20 arcs 50 and 52 which hold the lever construction 40 and produce the relatively long pauses of the feeder carriage 48. The ygroove 36 also has a plurality of lrelatively short slanting portions 54 `and 56 which join the arcs 50 and 52. These short slanting portions 54 and 56 move the lever construction 40 and produce the quick movements of feeder 48.

As the pin 38 of the rod construction 40 rides in the relatively long arcs 56 and 52, the rod construction 40 remains `stationary 4and the feeder carriage 48 pauses in front of the punch construction 20 a sufficient length of time to permit the punch to drive the blank 22 through the die cavity 28 and onto the star wheel cavity 34. The `cavity 34 is also in a temporary stationary condition. This pause also permits the punch construction 20 to be withdrawn to the position shown in FIGURE 2, so that the feeder carriage 48 may then be quickly snapped to the other position by the respective slanting groove portions 54 or 56, as the case may be. The star wheel also is stepped 30 during the time the punch is withdrawn.

The feeder carriage 48 is so shaped that it receives `a can in channel 58 from the righthand chute 24, in FIG- URES 4 and 15, While it holds a blank 22 in alignment with the punch construction 20 in channel 60 at the left end of the feeder carriage 48. The two channels 58 and 60 are so shaped `and spaced that the channel 60 holds a blank 22 aligned with the punch construction 20, in FIG- URES 4 and 15, while the channel 58 receives a blank 22 from the righthand chute 24. When the feeder carriage 48 reciprocates leftwardly, to a position, not shown, the channel 58 will be aligned with the punch construction 29, and the channel 60 will be aligned with the lefthand chute construction 24.

The quick movement of the carriage 48 from the position shown in FIGURES 4 and 15 to the `left position, not shown, and vice versa, is produced by the respective relatively short slanting portions 54 and 56 of the groove 36.

In general, the relatively long arcs 50 and 52 may have yan arc length of 20 `and the relatively short slanting portions 54 and 56 may have an arc length of 10 `about the center -of rotation 62, FIGURE 3, of the star wheel 32. The center of rotation 62 may coincide with the star Wheel 32.

The drawn can 200 lat station 30 of FIGURE 3 will be stepped to the station 30A on the next step of the star wheel and to position 30B von the next subsequent step of the star wheel. At some subsequent step, such as at the 90 degree step 30C, the drawn and ironed can may be trimmed at the edge or rim 64 as shown in FIGURE 11. The edge or rim 64 of FIGURE 11 may then be flared as at 66 in FIGURE 12 while the can is at the station 30D. The trimming and/ or the flaring operation may be performed by one or more machines 68 and 69, FIG- URES 2 and 3, which may be of any type, well known in this art.

For example, if there are two such machines 68 and 69 then the trim machine 68 may be driven by -a shaft '70 and the ilanging machine 69 may be driven by the shaft 72, by an electric motor, if desired.

The lever 40 may include a lower portion 40A which extends from the pin 38 to fulcrum 42. The fulcrum 42 may be a longitudinal support or bearing, as shown in FIGURE 2, which is supported by brackets 42A. The upper part of the lever 40 may be the portion 40B which extends from the left end of the fulcru-m bearing 42 in FIGURE 2 to engage the pin 44 and reciprocating bar 46. A hub or shaft passes through bearing 42 and forms a rocking fulcrum for the rod ends 40A and 40B.

As the star Wheel 32 continues to `step clockwise in FIGURE 3, it eventually discharges the anged cans through the discharge chute 74 which may discharge into a suitable conveyor or the like, not shown.

A stationary apron 76, FIGURE 3, is placed around the periphery of the star wheel 32 and may begin at the top with an upper ange 78 and end `at the bottom with a discharge flange 80, which flange 80 permits the cans to roll off `into the chute 74.

Any suitable drive may be provided for producing the motions heretofore described. For example, a motor 82, FIGURE l, may rotate a drive pulley 83 at 1750 r.p.m. and may drive a driven pulley or wheel 84 through a V-belt construction 86. The wheel 84 is connected by a shaft 88 to a herring-bone spur gear 90. The gear 90 engages a herring-bone gear 92 which may rotate at a uniform speed of 150 r.p.m. to drive a shaft 94. The shaft 94 may be keyed to an eccentric 96, FIGURES 4 and 5, which drives the eccentric sleeve 98 which is drivingly connected to the central pin 100 of the lever 102. The lever 102 may have a ilower fulcrrum at 104. Its upper end or pin 106 may be drivingly connected to the punch construction 20 by means of a link 108 and a pin construction 110.

The shaft 94 may also drive the right angle gear 112 to rotate a slanting shaft construction 114, which may include a exible joint 116. The shaft construction 114 may drive the right `angle gear 116 which may be connected to a shaft 118 which may be drivingly connected to `a stepping or indexing mechanism 120, of well known construction, and which may lrotate the star Wheel 32 with the 30 stepped movement heretofore described. The stepping or indexing mechanism 120 may have an output shaft construction 122 and which may include a ilexible joint 124.

In FIGURE 5, the gear plate cover 126 is made sufficiently large so that the eccentric 96 may be uncoupled from the counterweights 128 by the pin construction 130 so the eccentric 96 may be removed through the opening yleft by the removal of the plate 126 and `another eccentric may be substituted, to vary the stroke of the punch 20 Ias desired.

The punch and die construction 26 is such that the cuplike blanks 22 are drawn and ironed by the punch construction 20 into the forms of FIGURES 10 or 13 and are automatically loaded onto the star wheel cavities 34 at the top position 30 of the star wheel.

If the machine is to form cans with flat bottoms 138 only, as shown -in FIGURE 13, then the form of star wheel illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 may be used. However, if it is desired to provide a machine and method which is capable of producing not only the flat bottom of FIG- URE 13, but also the folrmed or concaved bottoms as shown in FIGURES l0, 11 yand 12, then the star wheel and bottom forming die 158 of FIGURES 8, 9 and 14 may be used.

Either embodiment may be used to form the trimming action shown in FIGURE 11 land the flanging action 66 shown in FIGURE 12. Such flanging and trimming actions Imay be used with either the concaved bottom 156 or the flat bottom 138, las desired.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 through 4, the star wheel there shown may be used to produce flat bottomed cans of the character shown in FIGURE 13. The flat bottomed cans yare delivered into the cavities 34, FIGURES 1 and 3. The cavities 34 may be formed on a plurality of star plates 138, 139 and 141B. Flat bottomed cans are delivered into the cavities 34 to be carried downward along the star wheel.

These plates and lrings may be held together in any suitable manner, so that they are rotatable .about the shaft construction 122 which is driven by the stepping mech- `anism 120 as elsewhere described. Suitable hub Iand bearing constructions 144 may be provided to support the plates 138, 139, and ring 142. All of these parts may be mounted on a base 146 of any suitable construction, All of this structure may be a unitary structure which may be Imoved longitudinally by means of a pair of slidable bars or racks 148 which may be moved longitudinally to adjust the unitary structure with respect to the punch construction by the pinions 149 on shaft 154 and wheel 150 which may be turned by the handle 152.

If it is desired to form the bottoms of the cans with concaved bottoms 156, as shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12. then a forming mechanism may be added to the star wheel construction, to cooperate with the punch construction, to form such concave bottoms 156.

For example, a spring loaded bottom forming die 158,

FIGURES 8, 9 and 14, may be leftwardly biased by the spring construction 160, FIGURE 14, until nut 175 stops against plate 174. A slidable ring 162 surrounds the head of the die 158. The ring 162 is biased leftwardly by springs 176 until the inner shoulder of rim 162 rests against the outer shoulder of die 158. The springs 176 may be placed in cavities 178. The die structure 168 may be carried by the base 146 of FIGURES 1 and 3, or it may be a more substantial base independently supported, as desired.

The spring loaded die 158 and ring 162 make up a die asse-mbly for forming the at can base 137 into a concave base 156. During the last portion of the punch 192 travel, the drawn and ironed `can 200 engages the spring loaded die assembly 158, 162, moves it rightwardly, whereby, the concavity is formed due to the resistance of the springs 160 and 176.

On the return stroke .plunger 158 follows the punch 192 leftwards until the nut 175 stops the plunger Inotion 158. Beyond this point the sleeve 162 keeps following the punch 192 until its inner shoulder stops against the outer shoulder of plunger 158. In this poq sition the outer ring of 162 is outside of the domed profile of 158. When the can 200 is Stripped from the punch 192, as described later, lit can be indexed sideways by the star wheel assembly 32 (138, 139, 140) without the danger of interference of the protruding prolile of the base form plunger 158.

FIGURE 14 shows a cup-shaped blank 22 held inalignment with the punch -construction 20 ready to be drawn. The cup holder or sleeve 180 has been moved rightwardly, FIGURE 14, so that its [right end has been telescoped into the cup 22. This iirmly holds the cup 22 against the first drawing die 184 and also within the respective channel 58 or 60, as the case may be.

During the rightward stroke of the punch construction 20, the cup 22 is drawn through the drawing and ironing dies 184, 186 and 188, so that the drawn cup or can 200, FIGURES 8 and 9, is driven through the die cavity 28 Iand into the Waiting star wheel cavities 34 at the top of the star wheel. The drawn cups 200 correspond in position to the cups 30 shown in FIGURES 1 to 4.

However, in the constructions shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 14, the punch construction is provided with a combined stripper :and 'bottom forming piece 190 which is concaved to cooperate with the spring loaded die 158 to concave the bottoms of the cans, as indicated at 156 in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12.

The combined stripper 190 may be caused to dwell, as shown in FIGURE 9, during the initial leftward retracting motion of the front piece or punch head 192 of the punch. The pieces 190 and 192 are longitudinally keyed at 194, to prevent their relative rotation during assembly, etc.

The stripper 190 is temporarily and relatively moved partly out of the punch head 192, as in FIGURE 9, partly to strip the can 200 partly or ful-ly off the punch head 190. Then the stripper is snapped back into the punch head 190, as now further to be described.

The stripper 190 is threaded onto a centr-al pipe construction 196 which is threaded onto a leftwardly spring biased piece 198, the left end of which is carried by a slida'ble frame 202, which slides on the supporting bars 220. The frame 202 has an extension 204 which engages the front 206 on the rockable bars 206 on the le-ftward stroke of the punch construction as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9. The frame 206 is supported on ulcrums 208 and are upwardly biased |by the spring constructions 210. The fulcrums 208 are mounted on a stationary part or frame of the machine.

The frame 202 is arrested by the ends 212 of the bars 206. A tripping member 214 is carried by the main punch frame 216 and continues to move leftwardly after the 'frame 202 is arrested. The leftward movement of the tripping member 214 is indicated at 214A in FIGURE 9 and this leftward movement causes the tripping member 214 to engage the cam surface 218 of the .bars 206 and to force them downward as indicated by the dotted -line position 206A in FIGURE 9. This downward movement of the bar 206 releases the frame 202 which rides on the supporting bars 220 which are carried -by the main punch frame 222. The release of the frame 202 causes the piece 198 to pull the 'bottom forming piece or stripper 190 Iback into the front punch head 192. That is, the leftward movement of the frame 202 pulls the stripper 190 from lthe position shown in FIGURE 9 to a leftward position wherein the member 190 is telescoped leftwardly into the member 192.

The punch of FIGURES l-4 may lbe provided with a stripper similar to stripper 190. However, the stripper of FIGURES 1-4 may have a flat face, if desi-red, but the concave face of stripper 190 may also be used in the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4.

To -aid the mechanical stripper 190, compressed air iS inserted into the tube 196 -by a flexible tube 197. This pneumatically strips the drawn can 200 olf the punch member 192 and causes it to remain in the star wheel cavities 34 of the star plates 138, 139 and 140.

The main punch frame 222 rides in supporting grooves 223 of the stationary supporting plate 226 of the main frame.

The front end anges 228 of the punch frame 222 actuate the Ibars 230 to force a leftward movement on the bars 230 on the return stroke of frame 222 and to release the bars 230 on the rightward stroke. The Ibar heads 231 provide the pulling action on the leftward stroke.

The bars 230 are guided in brackets 232 and 233. The lugs 234 form a part of the frame 235 and 240 and are xedly connected to the bars 230. The .bar heads 231 are engaged by the anges 228 of the punch frame 222 and force to open the frame 234, 235, 240 and assembly against the pressure in the stationary cylinders 236.

The cup blank holder 180 may hold a cup shaped blank 22, and may telescope into the cup blank 22 as desired. In 4FIGURES 6, 7 and 14 the telescoping action is illustrated.

The slidable members 234, movable bars 235, plate 240 and blank holder may form a guide `and support for the front 192 of the punch while the punch is in rightward positions.

The rnain frame 222 of the punch construction may 4have a chuck-like member 242 which holds the cylindrical punch member 244 and which is united with the member 192 yin any desired manner.

In the operation of this invention, the shallow cup-like blanks 22, FIGURE 15, 4are fed down the slanting chutes 24 into the -arc shaped channels 58 and 60 on the feeder carriage 48. Channel 60 is shown aligned with the punch member 192 of punch 20 which will hit the blank 22 which is in the arc or channel shaped holder 60.

The feeder 48 is reciprocated back and forth between the stops `49 and 51 by means of the reciprocating bar 46 which is attached to the lug 43 of carriage 48 by the Springs 45 and 47 to allow some play between the bar 46 and the feeder carriage 48 after the carriage has been stopped by the stops 49 or 51.

The carriage 48 may be easily removed and another carriage may be substituted when blanks 22 of different size are to be used. The cooperating parts, such as blocks 49 and 51, chutes 24, etc. may be adjusted or removed and others substituted, when different blanks 22 are to be used.

The cup holder or sleeve 180 is first moved by the air cylinders 236 into engagement with the -rim of the cup 22, or telescoped into the cup 22, as alternatively desired, to hold the particular cup iirmly before it is struck by the leading portion or punch head 192 or the punch construction 20. The leading punch head 192 then pushes the cup 22 past the draw and ironing dies 184, 186 and 188 to produce the drawn can or cylinder 200. The bottom of the can 200 may be made flat as indicated at 138 in FIGURE 13, if the type of star wheel 32 is used which is shown in FIGURES 1 through 4. On the other hand the bottom of the can may be concaved, if the construction is used which is shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 14, as shown at 156 in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12.

In either case, the drawn can 200 is deposited in the upper most temporarily stationary cavity of star wheel cavities 34 or 34A as indicated at 30 in FIGURE l and then the punch head is quickly withdrawn `from the can 200. The first withdrawing movement is performed by the main punch frame 222 which is reciprocated backward by the lever 102. The first movement moves the front punch head 192 from the position shown in FIG- URE 8 to that of FIGURE 9 while at the same time the combined stripper and bottom forming piece 190 is held at its lmost rightward position, as in FIGURE 9. FIG- URES 8 and 9 show the member 190 as being concaved to cooperate with the spring loaded die 158. However the stripper 192 may be flat, as elsewhere described. The member 190 is maintained temporarily at the rightmost position of FIGURES 8 and 9 by the arresting action of the levers 206, FIGURES 8 and 9, which arrest the slidable frame 202 as its lower member 204 engages the ends 212 of the levers 206, or of a transverse bar 207 which may extend from one lever 206 to the other. This arresting action maintains the frame 202 in the position shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 while the rnain member 222 and the punch member 192 continue to move leftwardly and carry a tripper member 214 into engagement with the cam surface 218 of the bars 206 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 9. This action pushes the bars 206 downwardly to the position 206A which permits the frame 202 to snap leftwardly under the impulse of the spring construction 209, which is a compression spring, and the end of which engages t-he shoulder 211 of the leftwardly biased piece 198. This quickly moves the member 190 within the slanting portion 191 of punch head 192, FIGURE 9, and thereafter the members 190 and 192 are moved leftwardly in unison by the leftward movement of the main member 222 under the impulse of the reciprocating rod 102.

When the members 190 and 192 first are withdrawn, compressed air is added at the passage 224 to strip the member 200 pneumatically, while the punch members 190 and 192 are being withdrawn beyond the area of the star wheel 32. Then the stepping mechanism 120 will move the star wheel 32 or 32A for a 30 degree step. This carries the formed can from the position 30 to the position or s/tation 30A. Subsequent stepping actions eventually move the can to the trimming station 30C where the edge of the can is trimmed as at 64. The next step to the station 30D places `the can 200 so that it may be flanged as shown at 66 in FIGURE 12. Subsequent movements of the star wheel eventually discharge the can 200 over the discharging flange 80 near the bottom of the star wheel construction and into the discharge chute 74.

If desired, a stationary ring 189, FIGURE 8, may extend around adjacent the periphery of the star wheel 32 which has a relatively smooth surface adjacent the star wheel to retain the drawn cans in the cavities 34 against leftward movement as the cans and cavities 34 travel downwardly to the chute 74. Such ring 189 may have suitable openings adjacent and in alignment with the die construction 28, and with the rim trimmer and rim Hanger.

In FIGURE 14, such ring has an opening to receive the die 188 beyond the limits of FIGURE 14. A similar ring, not shown, may be provided `for the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4.

The holder 180, which may engage the bottom of the blank, FIGURE 14, is held in the position shown in FIG- URES 8 and 14 by means of air cylinders 236. The

holder is faced in the open positions as shown in FIG- URES 2, 6, and 7 against the air pressure in cylinders 236 by means of the tie rod assembly 231, 230, 234, 235, and 240 as elsewhere described. These cylinders may be provided with suitable compressed air supply, automatic air control, spring constructions, etc., not shown, properly to synchronize the movement of the holder 180 with respect to the movements of ithe punch head 192 and of the blank feeder 4S.

The air cylinder constructions move the holder 180 rightwardly into engagement with the vblank or shallow cup 22 after the blank 22 has been properly aligned with the die 184, as in FIGURES 8 and 14. This movement precedes the strike of the punch head with such blank, properly to yhol-d the blank for the srtike.

The holder 180 is removed leftwardly from the posi- .tions of FIGURES 8 and 14 to the positions of FIGURES 2 and 7 in time to permit the `feeder 48 to be moved to a new feeding position while the punch head 192 and the holder 180 are leftward of the holder 48, as in FIGURES 2 and 7.

If desired, the member 168 of FIGURE 14, together with the ring 162 and t-he punch 158 may be made as a complete ring or disc with a plur-ality of punches 158 aligned with the star wheel notches 134A and rotating continuously with them in the same manner that ring or disc 136, FIGURE 2, rotates with star wheel disc 138. Such a ring or disc may be supported along with the star wheel on a suitable base of suicient strength to support these members.

Alternately, a ring or disc somewhat similar to ring 136 of FIGURE 2 may be used with inward dimples or punches having bottom form-ing faces somewhat similar to the face of punch 158 of FIGURE 14. Such dimples or punches may be firmly secured to or formed on such a plate or disc corresponding to plate 136, or such dimples or punches may be resiliently held on such plate 136. Such dimples or punches alternately may be firm-ly held on the plate corresponding to plate 136 and such plate may be resiliently mounted on the star wheel to yield axially upon impact during the can forming operation.

The machine herein disclosed is so designed that the upper frame part 250 of the machine, above the flange dividing line 252, FIGURE 4, with its precision slide parts can be readily detached from the basic lower frame 254. The upper frame part 250 may then be replaced with different or more precise units, as the case may be. This is of great advantage for large scale production, where a great number of these machines may be employed. This provides great versatility in large scale production, and permits efficient maintenance and repair. The stroke of the lower part 254 of the machine may be easily changed for use in the new upper units 250', if desired.

The star wheel construction 32 may also be readily detachably secured to the basic lower frame 254 and be actuated by mechanism in such lower frame and may receive the drawn cans and the like from the upper frame part 250. The star wheel also may be replaced by a new star wheel to cooperate with the new upper part 250.

It is thus to be seen that a new and useful and versatile machine is provided for making drawn cans and drawn and ironed cans, drawn, ironed and bottom formed cans and drawn, ironed, bottom formed and trimmed and flanged cans as desired and as illustrated in FIGURES 11 through 13.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed, as required by statute, other forms may be used,all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination: a generally horizontal cylindraceous drawing die -construction having an entrance end and a discharge end; a blank feeder adjacent said entrance end; an indexing star wheel construction adjacent said discharge end, rotatable about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of `circularly arranged radially outwardly directed, channel shaped drawn can receiving star cavities each of which is temporarily stationary and -aligned with said die construction adjacent the top portion of said star wheel during the indexing stops; and a punch construction reciprocable into and out of said feeder, through both ends of said die construction, and into said temporarily stationary and aligned st-ar cavity to deposit and gravitationally maintain a drawn can in said star cavity; and stripping means to strip said drawn can oftr said punch construction as said punch is reciprocated out of said star cavity.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which a discharge chute is provided adjacent the bottom portion of said star wheel `into which said drawn can is gravit-ation- `ally deposited, and in which means are provided to maintain said drawn can in said cavity while s-aid drawn can and cavity travel from said aligned positi-on to said discharge chute.

3. A combination according to claim 2 in which said blank feeder is a shallow can feeder and a blank holder is moved against said shallow can in said feeder before said punch construction strikes said blank.

4. A combination according to claim 3 in which stripping means are provided to strip said drawn can off said punch construction as said punch -construction is reciprocated out of said star cavity.

5. A combination according to claim 4 in which said punch construction is reciprocated by an eccentric which is readily interchangeable with a different eccentric to change the length of reciprocation of said punch construction.

6. A combination according to claim 5 in which said feeder is a transversely reciprocable feeder in the path of said punch construction and has two open top blank receiving cavities alternately positioned with a blank in the path of said punch construction by transverse reciprocation of said feeder and in which chutes respectively feed a shallow can blank into the cavity which is not aligned with said punch construction.

I7. A combination according to claim 6 in which said temporarily aligned star cavity moves with said drawn can to another indexing station, and `in which rim trimming means are provided adjacent said another indexing station to trim the rim of said drawn can.

8. -A combination according to claim 7 in which said Iindexing cavity and trimmed rim drawn can move to a subsequent station and in which rim flanging means are provided to flange said trimmed rim.

9. In combination: a cylindraceous die member having an entrance opening; a punch head reciprocable into and out of said die member; a blank feeder having a channel shaped blank feeding `cavity reciprocable transversely into and out of alignment with said punch head and entrance opening, and a blank holder comprising a sleeve moveable ahead of and along said punch head to hold said blank and support said punch head in alignment with said entrance opening.

10. In combination: a reciprocal hollow punch head; a cylindraceous die member having an entrance end and a discharge 'end through which ends said punch c-onstruction is reciprocated; a blank feeder in front of said die member to feed a blank between said punch construction and said die -member to be formed into a container to be discharged beyond said discharge end of said die member, a reciprocal punch stripper within said punch head; and means to hold said stripper and container stationary at the discharge end of said die member during an initial return reciprocal movement of said punch head until a portion of said stripper is exposed out of said punch head and to cause said stripper then to move at a faster return reciprocal movement into said punch head.

11. A combination according to claim 10 in which a spring loadable member is held stationary during said 10 return reciprocal movement to load said spring and to hold said stripper stationary and in which said loadable member is released during said return reciprocal movement to cause said 'faster reciprocal movement.

12. A combination according to claim 11 in which a main punch frame reciprocates said punch head and spring loaded member, and in which a stop member stops said spring loaded member to hold said stripper stationary and in which a release member carried by said main punch member moves said stop member to release said loadable member.

13. In combination: a horizontal generally cylindraceous can drawing die having a horizontal cylindraceous die cavity having an entrance end and a discharge end; a shallow can feeder serially feeding shallow cans in alignment with said die cavity with the bottom of said shallow cans adjacent said entrance end; a star wheel adjacent said discharge end, rotatable about a horizontal axis, and having circularly arranged radially outwardly directed channel shaped, drawn can receiving star wheel cavities steppingly and serially movable into alignment with said die cavity at the upper part of said star wheel; a shallow can cylindraceous holder reciprocal axially of said die cavity and into holding contact with said shallow can; and a horizontally .reciprocal punch construction aligned with said `die cavity and movable through said holder into drawing contact with said shallow can, through said die cavity to draw said shallow can into an elongated can and to deposit and to gravitati-onally maintain said elongated can in said aligned star wheel cavity.

14. A combination according to claim 13 in which said punch construction and elongated can are movable into said aligned star wheel cavity, said punch construction being Withdrawingly movable from said star wheel cavity `from said die cavity and from said feeder while leaving said elongated can in said star cavity.

15. A combination according to claim 14 in which said punch construction has stripping means effective to strip said elongated can from said punch construction.

16. A combination according to claim 15 in which said `stripping means is a stripping plunger in said punch construction and being temporarily movable part-ly out of said punch construction to strip said elongated can.

17. A combination according to claim 16 which has means for supplying air under pressure into said elongated can to aid in stripping said elongated can.

18. A combination according to claim 17 in which said feeder is a transversely reciprocal carriage with two shallow can receiving cavities alternately movable into alignment with said die ca'vity by reciprocation of said carriage.

19. A combination according to claim 18 in which said holder is telescoped on said punch construction and is reciprocal relatively to said punch construction.

20. A combination according to claim 13 and having: a basic lower frame construction with actuating mechanism; an upper frame part readily detachably :secured to said lower frame construction, said generally cylindraceous can draw-ing die and punch construction being carried by said upper frame part Iand actuated by mechanism in said lower frame construction; said star wheel being actuated by mechanism in said lower frame construction.

21. A combination according to claim 20 in which Said star wheel is readily detachably connected to said basic lower frame construction.

22. In combination: a reciprocal punch construction; a transversely reciprocal feeder in the path of said punch construction and having two open top blank receiving cavities alternately positioned with a blank -in the path of said punch construction by transverse reciprocation of said feeder and in which chutes respectively feed a sha1- low can blank into the cavity which is not aligned with said punch construction, a die construction aligned with said punch construction on one side of said feeder .and a tubular blank holder movable into said shallow can blank ahead of said punch construction.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Sherman 205-4 Calleson 205-4 Gladfelter et al. 113-7 Knowles 113-7 12 FOREIGN PATENTS 418,493 9/1910 France.

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

5 H. D. HOINKES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL CYLINDRACEOUS DRAWING DIE CONSTRUCTION HAVING AN ENTRANCE END AND A DISCHARGE END; A BLANK FEEDER ADJACENT SAID ENTRANCE END; AN INDEXING STAR WHEEL CONSTRUCTION ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGE END, ROTATABLE ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCULARLY ARRANGED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY DIRECTED, CHANNEL SHAPED DRAWN CAN RECEIVING STAR CAVITIES EACH OF WHICH IS TEMPORARILY STATIONARY AND ALIGNED WITH SAID DIE CONSTRUCTION ADJACENT THE TOP PORTION OF SAID STAR WHEEL DURING THE INDEXING STOPS; AND A PUNCH CONSTRUCTION RECIPROCABLE INTO AND OUT OF SAID FEEDER, THROUGH BOTH ENDS OF SAID DIE CONSTRUCTION, AND INOT SAID TEMPORARILY STATIONARY AND ALIGNED STAR CAVITY TO DEPOSIT AND GRAVITATIONALLY MAINTAIN A DRAWN CAN IN SAID STAR CAVITY; AND STRIPPING MEANS TO STRIP AND SAID DRAWN CAN OFF SAID PUNCH CONSTRUCTION AS SAID PUNCH IS RECIPROCATED OUT OF SAID STAR CAVITY. 